A quiet but capable point of the lower abdomen. Daju (ST-27) regulates the intestines, clears urinary difficulty, and — perhaps most distinctively — helps the body hold its Essence. When the lower abdomen is tight, bloated or obstructed, and when the Kidneys struggle to retain what they should, this is a point worth knowing.
Name & story
The name 大巨 Daju means "Big Greatness" or "Great Enormity". It speaks of something large and significant dwelling in the lower belly — the deep reservoir of the body's fundamental Essence and urinary function. The point sits in that broad, open territory below the navel where the body stores its most precious reserves, and its name quietly honours the importance of what goes on there.
Point family & character
Daju belongs to the Stomach Meridian (ST). It carries no special classical category — no Xi Cleft, no Yuan Source, no He-Sea designation. Its character is more quietly functional: a local working point of the lower abdomen, well suited to Excess patterns of the Stomach and intestines, and to disorders of the lower Jiao.
Five-element dynamics
The Stomach Meridian (ST) is the great Yang channel of the Earth element, and its pathway runs all the way down through the abdomen. ST-27 sits in the lower reaches of that pathway — below the navel, in the territory of the lower Jiao, close to the Bladder and the Essence. Here the Earth channel crosses into the domain of Water, and that crossroads gives Daju its unusual combination of actions: moving and regulating like Earth, yet also supporting the holding and storing function that belongs to the Kidneys.
Location
Find the navel, then measure 2 Cun straight down. From that point, move 2 Cun to the side (lateral to the midline). The point is level with Ren-5 (Shimen).
Anatomy & fascia
The point lies in the lower abdominal wall, in the region of the rectus abdominis muscle.
Needling
The needle is inserted perpendicularly (straight in).
Moxa, cupping & Tui Na
Moxa and gentle warming are appropriate for Cold or Deficiency patterns in the lower abdomen. Abdominal massage (Tui Na) around this area can complement needling for intestinal stagnation.
Functions
Regulates the Intestines and moves Qi Stagnation in the lower abdomen. Resolves Dampness and benefits urination. Firms the Essence and supports its retention.
Indications
Abdominal distension, fullness and pain, especially in the lateral lower abdomen. Difficult urination and retention of urine. Premature ejaculation and seminal emissions — conditions where the body fails to hold its Essence. The point is frequently chosen in Excess patterns of the Stomach giving rise to pain in the lateral abdomen, and it moves Qi wherever there is stagnation in the lower belly.
Point combinations
With local lower abdominal points for intestinal distension and Qi Stagnation. With points that support the Kidneys and firm the Essence in cases of seminal emission or premature ejaculation. With points that promote urination when there is Dampness and urinary retention.
Clinical spotlight
What makes ST-27 stand out from its neighbours on the Stomach Meridian (ST) — such as ST-25 or ST-26 — is the reach of its influence. As Maciocia notes, it works not only on the epigastrium but extends its action to the lower abdomen and the lower Jiao. This gives it a foothold in urinary disorders and in the realm of Essence — territory more commonly associated with Kidney points. The combination of intestinal regulation, Dampness resolution and Essence-firming in a single abdominal point is what gives Daju its particular clinical character.
The golden tip
For mild lower abdominal fullness or discomfort, gentle clockwise abdominal massage around this area — 2 Cun below and 2 Cun to the side of the navel — can help move stagnant Qi. Warmth applied to the lower abdomen (a warm pack) is comforting when there is a sense of cold heaviness. Always seek professional care for urinary difficulties or reproductive concerns.
For education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.